Tony holds a Masters Degree from Sacramento State in Exercise Science, with an emphasis on Strength & Conditioning. He has over 13 years of experience in training college athletes at UCLA, University of Colorado, University of Pacific, and most recently, the University of Kentucky Football Team.

What I love most about working in the health and fitness industry is the people I get to meet and help on their fitness journey.

One of my clients, who is an equestrian athlete, had been in a terrible riding accident at one of her competitions.  She returned to me and asked me to help her with the rehabilitation.  Our goal was to return back to competition in only 4 months.  Not only did we meet our goal but she performed very well in her first competition back.  I was so proud of her and consider myself lucky to be able to help her keep doing what she loves to do.

What I love most about working in health and fitness is the opportunity to help people improve their quality of life.
I am inspired by anyone who is willing to sacrifice in order to help others. A teacher dedicating extra time to a student, an athlete who may give up something personal to help the rest of the team, soldiers fighting for our freedom, the list goes on…
I do not have one favorite fitness story to tell.
I have been working in the field for almost a decade now and helped many people. My favorite concept is experiencing people reach goals that they didn’t think were possible.

My favorite thing about working in group fitness is helping people get out of their comfort zone by pushing them to their limits in order to help them reach their fitness goals.

I am inspired by one of my managers at WKYT.  He pushes me to be better every day.  He helps me think outside of the box and shows me new ways to find strategies for our clients.  One of my favorite things I have learned about myself while working with him is to surround myself with people who inspire me and make me want to be a better person every day.  I try to pass this feeling on to my class members in order to help them become more confident with boxing.

One of my favorite fitness stories is helping one of the girls in my class get to where she physically wants to be.  She doesn’t like to lift weights but was open to any suggestions I could give her.  I told her that if she can do at least one class a week for 3 months, she will see a difference in the strength of her punches, shape of her upper body and increased endurance.  In the beginning, she skipped active recovery and took several breaks in the class.  After 3 months of coming almost every week or twice a week to make up for a missed week, she leaned out the areas of her back and waist that she had originally set as her goal.  She also does all the active recoveries during class and takes minimal breaks.  SHE DID IT!

My job as a group instructor is to motivate and provide the member with a fun class experience. I love to create an energizing environment that makes the member get excited about their workout. I have fun encouraging them to push themselves and try something new. The best compliment I can receive is “that was so hard, but I had a great time doing it.”

I’m inspired by my grandmother. She loves Jesus and she loves people.  Her life has not been easy, yet she chooses joy every day. She takes nothing for granted and is grateful in all circumstances.

My favorite fitness story? A lady had just joined the gym after years of being inactive. She was hesitant and nervous about working out and especially taking a class. I showed her modifications and encouraged her during the class from time to time.

After class was over she said, “I did it!” She was so proud of herself for making it through the class. She has continued to come and is noticeably getting stronger. She even text me last week telling me she was sorry she missed but she did her own version of my class one evening by herself in the gym.

I love the health and fitness because there is no better feeling than the feeling you get when you help someone feel better about themselves. Being a personal trainer is so much more than just helping someone lose weight or get stronger. It’s about helping them change the way they think and so that they believe on the inside that they are capable.
I guess I’d have to say my daughters are my biggest inspiration in life. I want to live by example for them. I can’t think of a better example than one where I get to help others and show my girls how rewarding it can be to use your gifts and talents to improve someone else’s life.
I honestly don’t have a single “favorite” story from my job.  I love all the little moments;
The excited ” I dropped a pant size” text from the fitting room , the hug after they get off the scale , the thank you for believing in me comments, I could go on and on.  Everything about this job is so rewarding I couldn’t ask for a better profession than the one I’m in.

What I love most about teaching yoga is inspiring and helping others to feel strong and empowered.

I have inspiration every class and every day.  A student mastering the side plank or recovering from an injury.  I love bonding with my students over yoga. Over fitness. All working together on the same goal: working to be the best version of our(imperfect) selves.

I have a student that comes to almost every single class of mine since the doors opened at Proof. True commitment and dedication on her end.  She started taking class with a shoulder injury that she has had for years. She couldn’t do a push up.  She suffered a knee issue and worked through a terrifying fall in the snow. She can do it all and even recommends poses that she has read about or talked about with friends. SHE is inspirational! She is the reason we do this!

Working in Health and Fitness allows me to teach others knowledge and skills that last beyond their time working with me and can impart a real change in their lives.

One of my best motivators was an old coach and friend of mine who kept pushing me to always “work harder than your talent”, he used to say that a lot. Without that mentality I don’t think I would have been able to participate in college sports or achieve what I have.

I had a client who came to me and needed to lose weight. He was a firefighter and was coming up on retirement in a few years and was worried that he wouldn’t be able to pass his physicals to continue working and lose out on his full pension. He also was a diabetic and was taking medication for it. He put his mind to doing his program consistently and diligently, basically had great self-motivation even without one-on-one sessions. After about 14 weeks he was down 40 pounds and his A1C levels were in half, effectively his weight loss and lifestyle changes were combating his diabetic state and winning. I still work with him and we are about halfway to his goals, but his A1C levels continue to drop and I hope that he soon will not need medication at all.

Working at Proof Fitness has allowed me to watch people change their lives from the inside out. It feels good to be a (small) part of such a positive component of people’s day.

Proof Fitness members inspire me daily.  It’s incredible to watch people come back each week and improve!

My favorite memory teaching group fitness will always be my first full spin class.  I started out participating in group fitness in the very same room I’m now teaching in, 22 friendly faces and 45 minutes later I knew I had made the best decision to better myself.

I love inspiring others to not only achieve their fitness goals, but to make exercise an enjoyable part of life, whether it be through classes, training sessions, or simple fitness advice. It makes me incredibly happy to hear clients, class members, etc. that they loved their workout and are ready to come back for more!

My favorite fitness story isn’t much of a story, but a proud moment. While completing my own workouts at Proof Fitness, ­or teaching my classes, I constantly see my clients completing workouts I’ve given them and have had them participate in numerous classes I instruct. It makes me so proud to see that they have the drive outside of our sessions!

Being able to help people reach their goals makes me thrive. For me, as a Personal Trainer, seeing a client ecstatic that they are reaching / reached their goal is just as gratifying for myself as it is for them.

Survivors inspire me. Whether you are a cancer survivor, overcoming an eating disorder or have a physical disability, it is you that I admire. As a survivor, I know first-hand the challenges that are present, mentally and physically.

A woman came to me very obese, depressed and ready for change. On day one, I told her she HAD to clean up her diet and take my nutrition advice, as this was her biggest issue. It took about two months for this to sink in, which set us back somewhat on reaching her goal.

After changing her eating habits along with consistent training, she was over-the-moon happy when telling me how many of her co-workers have asked her about her weight loss!

THIS is one of the many reasons I LOVE what I do!

What I love most about working in the fitness industry is seeing the changes in people. Not just the physical changes but the mental and emotional changes that come with this process. Coming into the gym and sticking with a routine is not an easy task but watching my clients see progress is the most rewarding job I have ever had. Knowing you are a small part of helping someone see themselves in a new way drives me to do the best job I can in supporting them in and outside of the gym.

My inspiration comes from watching YOU, the members are my gym family. Watching you guys coming in day in and day out, it pushes me and inspires me to push myself that much harder in the gym. Outside of the members, two women who have inspired me over the years to get into the fitness industry and train have been Jillian Michaels, and Cass Martin. These women make me want to accomplish new goals and make a difference in the fitness world.

One of my favorite fitness stories comes from a client that I had worked with for about 2 years. She came into the gym every single day, following every workout assignment I gave her and showing up rain or snow to our sessions 3x a week. Over this two year period she lost over 100lbs, and completely transformed her body. As exciting as this was, the bigger before and after was how she saw herself in the mirror, not just physically but mentally. Watching her confidence grow with every PR and through all the sweat and tears, she pushed herself harder than I ever knew was possible.

I feel very fortunate to be in position where I can help improve someone’s life, confidence, physical appearance, and overall health. You simply can’t put a price on watching clients reach their goals and being the happiest version of themselves.

My Mom and Dad always inspired me to do whatever makes me happy and teaching has always been my passion.  I taught elementary school for several years and now have the pleasure of trying to make a difference with clients through personal training.

I had a client in her seventies who was fighting obesity plus severe arthritis.  Her determination was unshakeable and there wasn’t a class she wouldn’t take or an exercise she wouldn’t try.  She lost a significant amount of weight and improved her mobility.  I trained her but her generation is salt of the earth and she taught me about what really matters in life.

Fitness turned my life around and I love helping others improve their lives and health by teaching them how to live a healthy lifestyle. Watching my clients reach their goals and feel better makes my heart full.

Jillian Michaels has always inspired me. She and I both believe that health and fitness starts from within. Exercise is only a single piece of the puzzle to living a healthy and happy lifestyle.

Briefly describe a favorite fitness story in a few sentences.

When one of my clients told me they are feeling better and that she needs to go shopping for a smaller size because her pants are getting loose, which makes her feel fantastic about the hard work she is doing. Then after returning from a doctor’s appointment she tells me her cholesterol has dropped and blood pressure medication was lowered. Her doctor said she will be off her blood pressure medicine completely on her next visit if she continues on the healthy journey we have been taking together.

I absolutely love working in the health and fitness industry! First of all, I am a people person.  Group Fitness is one of the best ways to meet people! But, most importantly, I love helping people reach their health and fitness goals. There is nothing like the feeling when you see a member reach his or her goals.  When a client has amazing wedding pictures, delivers a healthy baby, loses their pregnancy weight, or has great results from a yearly checkup, it truly brings me joy. There is nothing like helping someone else live their best life!

I am inspired by so many people. I am inspired by our older population who never give up and keep coming back, no matter what they can or can’t do.  I’m inspired by single parents who work so hard to take care of their children and themselves.  I’m inspired by so many friends and family members who have overcome obstacles to be the best they can be.  Physically, I’m so inspired by people like Tina Turner. She just gets better every year!

I have a few favorite stories.  I’ll group them all together into a theme.  Being a high school teacher, I’m very excited when my students get into health and fitness.  I regularly have students attend my classes.

One of my biggest joys has been seeing several of my students join the fitness industry.  I have several former students who are now personal trainers or fitness instructors- some who even work at Proof!

I absolutely love working in the health and fitness industry!  First of all, I am a people person.  Group Fitness is one of the best ways to meet people!  But, most importantly, I love helping people reach their health and fitness goals.  There is nothing like the feeling when you see a member reach his or her goals.  When a client has amazing wedding pictures, delivers a healthy baby, loses their pregnancy weight, or has great results from a yearly checkup, it truly brings me joy. There is nothing like helping someone else live their best life!

I am inspired by so many people.  I am inspired by our older population who never give up and keep coming back, no matter what they can or can’t do.  I’m inspired by single parents who work so hard to take care of their children and themselves.  I’m inspired by so many friends and family members who have overcome obstacles to be the best they can be.  Physically, I’m so inspired by people like Tina Turner.  She just gets better every year!

I have a few favorite stories.  I’ll group them all together into a theme.  Being a high school teacher, I’m very excited when my students get into health and fitness.  I regularly have students attend my classes.  One of my biggest joys has been seeing several of my students join the fitness industry.  I have several former students who are now personal trainers or fitness instructors- some who even work at Proof!

My favorite part about working at Proof Fitness is that I have the opportunity to directly influence someone’s life in a positive way and empower them with confidence.

My mother inspires me! She’s probably one of the most selfless people I know. She puts others before herself and doesn’t ask for anything in return.

One of my favorite fitness experiences pertains to a specific client I worked with who absolutely hated the gym. She hated the atmosphere, hated working out, and hated how she looked while doing it. After working with her for awhile, I got to listen to her stories about her life and encourage her along the way. Showing her kindness and holding her accountable changed her outlook on fitness and gave her a more holistic perspective on lifetime wellness. She became excited to exercise and confident enough to work out around people in the facility.

I love the group exercise dynamic and the camaraderie.

My SilverSneakers students inspire me. They are committed to taking charge of their health. Many of them are well into their eighties!

I love when my older students tell me that their functional fitness has improved and that they are enjoying a higher quality of life because of my classes!

What do you love most about working in Health and Fitness?

I love the diversity that Health and Fitness offers. There is always something new to learn or practice. This industry allows so much room for growth and self- improvement because it is always evolving. You will never meet a person in the fitness world who can’t teach you something new.

Who inspires you and why?

My dad is my biggest inspiration not because he’s the most fit or can run the fastest, but because my entire life I have never known him to miss a day of exercising. Rain or snow, Christmas day or Monday morning, he is the most dedicated, consistent human I know, and that motivates me every day.

Working in health and fitness has given me the opportunity to combine work and play. I love being in the position to network and build myself as a professional, while staying centered around a passion I’ve had since I was young.

My mother inspires me. I was raised in a single parent home and her continuous selfless acts have helped put me in a position to succeed. Her selflessness has always been remarkably inspiring to me.

Being a coach and centered around athletics, of course I’ve loved the impact I’ve had on young men and women. Though my favorite fitness story is unrelated to sports, and was an opportunity for me to integrate my fitness education with rehabilitation experience. Through aggressive stretching, postural corrections, and overall strengthening; I was able to help a client who came to me with chronic sciatic pain. After about 10 weeks of training, the gentleman got off his yoga mat to conclude a routine session; and interrupted my farewell with a giant hug and the affirmation that he had been pain free for two weeks for the first time in over two years. “My quality of life has been restored and I could never thank you enough.” To think I was in a position to go above fitness goals and help someone restore value in their life was the most fulfilling feeling I’ve had in my career so far.

What I love most about working in Health and Fitness is the feeling I get from helping others realize their potential to be the best version of themselves mentally, physically, and spiritually.

My parents inspire me because they have always motivated me to be true to myself and to pursue what makes me happy. These days people are consumed by wanting to fit in instead of standing out. These basic teachings are instrumental in my training of clients by explaining to them that in a world of cookie cutter molds for people’s appearances you can look and feel great being true to yourself by carving out your own unique self.

My mother has type 1 diabetes and has struggled over the years to maintain a healthy A1C level. I worked with her over several months to help her to create a workout plan and a nutritional diet.  She now maintains a suitable A1C level, and credits my assistance with this improvement. I feel privileged to have play a role in the betterment of her life.

A healthy lifestyle can drastically improve one’s quality of life. I love working in health and fitness, because it gives me the opportunity to introduce those habits to my clients and inspire them to create a love for self-improvement all while reaching their physical goals. There’s nothing better than teaching self-love and better health through fitness!

I’m inspired by people and things that generate within me a strong sense of empowerment: self-help books, thought-provoking conversation, new perspectives.

A friend reached out to me, feeling frustrated with her fitness journey, because she was spending countless hours in the gym yet seeing no results. After two months of working with me, she had overcome her gym frustration, developed a greater sense of self-love and was again excited about fitness! Watching her drive, commitment and determination transform her mind and body was one of my first and most memorable client success stories.

Health is something we all share. It’s common ground that, when well-trod, can become a diving board for revolutionary connections. This industry provides the opportunity to meet so many incredible people, all of whom come full of stories and life experiences. The journeys are filled with vulnerability, triumphs, downfalls and an endless number of adjectives that characterize the human experience. I’m just grateful to be a part of it.

I find my biggest inspiration to be my mother. There is an unfathomable amount of resilience it takes to raise four children at poverty wages in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. With every visit home I seem to uncover a bit more of her story and each word only furthers my admiration for her. I can’t help but to find myself humbled by where I am in life by looking to the sacrifices my mother has made to put me here.

Working in health and fitness is the most rewarding and uplifting experience. It’s always amazing to see results, but creating a lifestyle devoted to health and wellness is my goal for every single person I encounter. I am contributing to an individual’s overall quality of life and that is the most incredible feeling.

My clients inspire me. It requires a lot of trust to put your body and goals in someone else’s hands. Training is collaborative, built on effort and responsibility. I promise to put the plan in place, and they promise to give it all they’ve got. That’s inspiring. We live in a culture bombarded with instant gratification. I am motivated by teaching clients to respect the process. It’s a journey full of ebbs and flows. To watch them evolve and grow throughout is inspiring.